Community Reuse Initiatives

Community reuse organisations are as diverse as their materials and users. They all offer excellent opportunities to reuse resources and most offer other great benefits as well - perhaps fulfilling a social enterprise role or helping volunteers to learn new upcycling skills. This page contains information on some community reuse initiatives. If you know of an initiative which isn't listed here, please let us know by emailing recycling@planetark.org

Bicycle Reuse/Repair/Refurbish

There are many bicycle reuse groups around the country. It's likely that the groups operating in your area are listed on the following website:

Give Now lists some bicycle reuse groups and also has a page of contacts for charitable organisations that accept bicycles but don't necessarily repair them.

Book Swap Schemes

Book swaps are a great opportunity to find a great read on the cheap! Many local councils or organisations organise their own book swaps, so keep an eye out. You can also use online book swap forums - see the Online Forums for Giving, Receiving or Trading Goods page.

Bag Share Schemes

Bag share schemes are a fantastic way to reduce the need for plastic shopping bags. In the words of Marrickville Council, the idea of bag share schemes is 'to prevent the use of plastic bags when well-intentioned shoppers forget their reusable bags. Additionally, individuals who have not yet tried reusable bags can experience the convenience and ease of using reusable bags.' So if you forget your reusable shopping bags, pick one up from a participating store and return it later. You can also donate any excess reusable shopping bags that you may have.

So far two councils in Australia have implemented bag share schemes. Visit their websites for information about where to pick up and drop off bags.

Computer Reuse/Refurbish

The RecyclingNearYou and BusinessRecycling websites allows you to search for organisations (both businesses and community groups) who recycle and/or refurbish computers in your area. On this page, however, we've listed just the community groups (often not-for-profit) who refurbish and reuse computers.

These organisations refurbish computers in good condition and will give or sell them cheaply to people experiencing disadvantage. Many do this as part of a training/employment program. If you are considering donating your unwanted computer to any of these organisations, check to see what requirements they may have (e.g. regarding computer type, age, capacity etc).

NSW

WorkVentures - refurbishes donated computers and makes them available to their diverse community of seniors, students, migrants and CentreLink clients

Donation Websites

Mattresses

Soft Landings (Bellambi, near Nowra) is a social enterprise run by Mission Australia that refurbishes or recycles mattresses. Mattresses in good condition are cleaned and sanitised, and in some cases may be re-covered, before being donated or sold. Mattresses which are not suitable for reuse are recycled for scrap metal and textiles.

A number of other companies also provide mattress recycling options - to search for one in your area, go to BusinessRecycling and enter your location details.

Reuse Centres

Reuse Centres are generally either community-based not-for-profit organsiations or 'tip shops'. They are great places too look for just about anything, including materials used in arts, crafts, home renovations and education. Some reuse centres also run educational workshops.

To find a reuse centre in your area, go to the homepage of RecyclingNearYou, type your council name into the search box and press 'Search'. You'll be taken to your council's page. At the bottom left-hand corner, under the 'Pass It On' section, you'll see if a link to 'Reuse Centres' if there is a listing in your local government area. If there are no listings in your area, check out the below organisations which may still be at a convenient distance to you.

Stationery Reuse

Having a system to reuse stationery within your workplace or organisation is often very easy to achieve, yet very effective in reducing unnecessary consumption. It can be as simple as designating a particular cupboard as the stationery cupboard, and asking staff to move any excess stationery away from their desks and into the stationery cupboard for other people to find and use. Keeping your stationery cupboard neat also helps because you won't lose track of any items.

The University of New South Wales (Kensington, Sydney) has established a Stationery Reuse Centre that accepts donations of unwanted stationery and provides it free to students and staff. Check their website or contact them to find out what types of stationery they accept.

Swap Parties

Swap parties can be a great way to get new stuff without it costing the earth! A swap party is an event where participants bring good quality items they no longer want and exchange them for other items that other people have brought. Swap parties can be public or private. They can be open to many categories of items or limited to just one (books or clothes, for example).

Swap parties are often hosted by local councils or community groups. Many private groups also choose to host their own swap parties, including workplaces, schools or 'mums and bubs' groups.

To find a swap party near you, keep an eye out in your local newspaper, council newsletter or community notice board, especially in October for National Swap Day or November for National Recycling Week. Public swap parties can be listed on our National Recycling Week Events page.

If you would like to host your own swap party, check out Planet Ark's Swap Party pages for everything you need to know to organise your event, including a comprehensive 'How-To' Guide, event signage and more.

Other Resources

Below is a list of community recycling initiatives you could start in your area: